דו״ח מאומת

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a critical global environmental and public health challenge. These small plastic particles of diverse origins are ubiquitously distributed in aquatic, atmospheric, terrestrial, and food systems, entering the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, thereby creating complex lifelong exposure scenarios. Accumulating evidence indicates that microplastics (MPs) not only pose threats to key early-life stages-including reproductive health, pregnancy maintenance, fetal development, and child growth-but may also systematically accelerate the aging process and increase the risk of age-related diseases. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the physicochemical properties, environmental distribution, human exposure pathways, and life-cycle health impacts of MPs. It elaborates on their specific adverse effects on the reproductive system and their interference with fetal and child development. Furthermore, it delves into the core molecular mechanisms by which MPs drive cellular and tissue aging, primarily through the induction of mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. The review also summarizes current research limitations concerning methodological standardization and epidemiological evidence, while outlining priority areas for future investigation. By integrating evidence across the life course, this review aims to establish a solid theoretical foundation for understanding the composite health risks of MPs, identifying vulnerable life stages, and informing the development of scientific prevention and intervention strategies.…

PMID: 41909126

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging environmental contaminants with increasing scientific evidence suggesting their potential risks to human health. The present review systematically explores the pathways through which these particles enter the human body, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of their toxicity, and current strategies to mitigate their effects. A structured literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, focusing on studies published between 2019 and 2024 across major scientific databases. MNPs primarily enter the human system via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. Once internalized, they can accumulate in various organs and trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and genotoxic effects. These toxic responses have been linked to chronic conditions such as metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, obesity), immune dysfunction, and neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, this review highlights emerging attenuation strategies, including advanced filtration technologies, bioremediation approaches, and bioactive compounds such as melatonin, astaxanthin, and probiotics. By identifying exposure pathways, toxic effects, and current research gaps, this review provides a comprehensive foundation for developing effective interventions to reduce MNP-related health risks and inform future toxicological studies.…

PMID: 40487378

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants, widely distributed from aquatic ecosystems to the terrestrial food chain, and represent a potential route of human exposure. Although several reviews have addressed MP contamination, a critical synthesis focusing on pathways through which consumer goods directly enter food and beverages, along with corresponding industry and regulatory responses, is lacking. This review fills this gap by proposing the direct release of MPs from common sources such as food packaging, kitchen utensils, and household appliances, linking the release mechanisms to human health risks. The release mechanisms of MPs under thermal stress, mechanical abrasion, chemical leaching, and environmental factors, as well as a risk-driven framework for MP release, are summarized. Human exposure through ingestion is the predominant route, while inhalation and dermal contact are additional pathways. In vitro and animal studies have associated MP exposure to inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and genomic instability as endpoints, though direct causal evidence in humans remains lacking, and extrapolation from model systems necessitates caution. This review revealed that dietary intake from kitchen sources is the primary pathway for MP exposure, higher than the inhalation pathway. Most importantly, this review critically sheds light on the initiatives that should be taken by industries with respect to global strategies and new policies to alleviate these challenges. However, while there has been an upsurge in research commenced in this area, there are still research gaps that need to be addressed to explore food matrices such as dairy products, meat, and wine in the context of the supply chain. In conclusion, we pointed out the challenges that limit this research with the aim of improving standardization; research approaches and a risk assessment framework to protect health; and the key differences between MP and nanoplastic (NP) detection, toxicity, and regulatory strategies, underscoring the need for size-resolved risk assessments.…

PMID: 41600643

Given that a substantial amount of time is spent in kitchens preparing food, the kitchen equipment used may be relevant in determining the composition and amount of microplastics ending up on our dinner plate. While previous research has predominantly focused on foodstuffs as a source of microplastics, we emphasise that micro- and nanoplastics are ubiquitous and likely originate from diverse sources. To address the existing knowledge gap regarding additional sources contributing to microplastics on our dinner plates, this review investigates various kitchen processes, utensils and equipment (excluding single-use items and foodstuffs) to get a better understanding of potential microplastic sources within a home kitchen. Conducting a narrative literature review using terms related to kitchenware and kitchen-affiliated equipment and processes, this study underscores that the selection of preparation tools, storage, serving, cooking, and cleaning procedures in our kitchens may have a significant impact on microplastic exposure. Mechanical, physical, and chemical processes occurring during food preparation contribute to the release of microplastic particles, challenging the assumption that exposure to microplastics in food is solely tied to food products or packaging. This review highlights diverse sources of microplastics in home kitchens, posing concerns for food safety and human health.…

PMID: 39170486

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are becoming an increasingly common environmental pollutant. They have been detected in fruit, vegetables, drinking water, seafood, meat, dairy products, and cereals, with particularly high levels often being found in processed foods. The presence of MNPs varies significantly depending on the type of food, geographical region, method of food preparation, and packaging materials used. Of the three main routes of human exposure to MNPs, ingestion is the most important. This article provides a comprehensive review of food contamination by MNPs, including an assessment of the impact of various factors on the MNP abundance. For the first time, it also evaluates the differences in MNP intake among individuals following three typical European dietary patterns: the Mediterranean, Western, and lacto-ovo-vegetarian. The lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet was found to result in the highest MNP intake (69.1 × 10⁶ particles/day), almost doubling that of the other tested patterns. This is mainly due to the very high proportion of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts in daily meals. Taking into account both health concerns and MNP quantity consumed with meals (37.5 × 10⁶ particles/day), the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest. The review also highlights the need to raise awareness of food-related sources of MNPs.…

PMID: 41011560